Evaluating Pediatric Hearing in the Operating Room

In pediatric audiology, assessing hearing during surgical procedures can be crucial, particularly for children with complex medical conditions. A study, co-authored by Dr. Brian Fligor and some colleagues, investigates the accuracy and implications of auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing conducted in the operating room (OR).

The study aimed to understand the discrepancies between ABR thresholds obtained during surgery and follow-up hearing outcomes. Researchers reviewed data from 116 patients who underwent various ear procedures. The patients were categorized into three groups: those with middle ear effusion who had myringotomy with tube placement, those with myringotomy alone, and those with ear examinations but no effusion.

The results highlighted that ABR thresholds obtained in the operating room can vary significantly from follow-up audiological evaluations. Dr. Fligor’s contributions were pivotal in analyzing these discrepancies and understanding the limitations and benefits of using ABR testing in the OR. His expertise helped clarify that while OR-ABR is valuable, especially for assessing difficult-to-test patients, the results should be interpreted with caution. Follow-up evaluations remain essential to obtain an accurate assessment of hearing status.

For further details on the outcome of the study, read more HERE: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21571378/

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